Airfix' Aston goes to auction

The one-off artwork will certainly be one of the more interesting consignments at the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale, which takes place on Saturday, September 15.

Measuring 6.35m wide by 3.3m tall, the piece was hand-made by Hertfordshire-based Evanta Motor Company as a tribute to Aston Martin's victory at the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hour race. Broken up into kit form and fixed to a frame in the style of the famous 'Airfix' models, the impressive 1:1 scale model Aston Martin DBR1 is constructed with the finest attention to detail. Individually-labelled 'race-ready' components are mounted onto a satin grey frame with tapering sprues, as if they could be twisted off for assembly.

The kit-style artwork comprises a DBR1 body-shell in two parts, finished in Aston Martin Californian Sage Green with race livery, and complete with lights, screens and final detail fitted to the main body parts. Also included are four 16-inch Aston Martin wire wheels shod in Dunlop race tyres and fitted with Aston Martin three-eared spinners, a "Mota Lita" 15-inch wood-rimmed steering wheel, a pair of race seats upholstered in Aston Martin-style weave material with leather-bound headrest, a machined aluminium gear knob and gear lever, and a full dashboard finished in textured satin black and assembled using Smiths gauges and period switches.

The piece also includes a replica of the Le Mans trophy and an Aston Martin peaked cap signed by Shelby and Salvadori, which has been cleverly incorporated into the sprue of the 'model'.

To date, the 1959 event represents Aston's sole Le Mans victory. Perhaps more significant than the victory were the drivers who delivered it. The DBR1/2 team car driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori greeted the chequered flag first, followed by the Aston DBR1/4 driven by Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frere. Both Shelby and Salvadori passed away earlier this year, which adds extra significance, if not extra value, to this piece.

Ant Anstead, Managing Director of the Evanta Motor Company, said: "Aston Martin's sole Le Mans win of 1959 is a huge part of British motorsport. The loss of drivers Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, and chief engineer Ted Cutting, this year is saddening. We wanted to offer a tribute to these three great men, and to such a beautiful and iconic car. And what could be a more fun and fitting tribute than every boy's dream toy: a life-size model."

The artwork, which splits into two pieces for easy transportation, is expected to realise between _20,000 and _25,000 (approx. AU$29,660 - AU$37,080) at the Goodwood Revival sale on September 15. For further details on Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale, please go to www.bonhams.com

Images: Bonhams UK